DOZENS of football yobs went on the rampage in Heywood town centre after England's Euro 2004 3-0 trouncing of Switzerland.

DOZENS of football yobs went on the rampage in Heywood town centre after England's Euro 2004 3-0 trouncing of Switzerland.

Up to 60 of them kicked cars, ripped off windscreen wipers and threw beer bottles and glasses at passing drivers during 20 minutes of terror.

"I couldn't believe it. It was like watching something on TV," said one eyewitness. "They were stopping all the cars passing outside Bar Vino, rocking them and pouring beer on them. I think they smashed someone's windscreen. A lot of people must have been scared."

"One woman had her windscreen wipers pulled off and had to reverse to get away. Others tried to drive through the group in the middle of the road. It is amazing there were no serious injuries."

"They even threw a glass at the first police van that turned up, so the officers didn't get out straight away. It just got worse and worse as I watched. In the end it got totally out of hand."

Violence erupted at 10.40pm on Thursday night shortly after France's 2-2 draw with Croatia was screened in local pubs. Police received reports of fighting outside the Queen Anne, on Market Place, which then moved to nearby Bar Vino, on Market Street.

The violence was monitored on the town centre's CCTV cameras and the first officer arrived on the scene within four minutes of police being alerted, said a GM Police spokesman.

But when the scale of disturbance was realised, reinforcements were called in and 12 police officers armed with batons and CS gas were sent to the scene. The CS spray was not used.

But one local businessman who witnessed some of the trouble claimed there was a long delay before the police arrived in force.

"The police could have sorted it out a lot sooner if they had been there. I was watching for 20 minutes or longer and did not see one policeman."

"I thought other people would have phoned the police but I did it myself in the end. What happened to the CCTV?"

Detective Inspector Martin Jeffs, from Rochdale police, said the group calmed down and dispersed when the officers arrived and there were no arrests. He said the incident appeared to have been fuelled by alcohol and confirmed football supporters were involved.

Police have now asked town centre bars to post notices warning drinkers that they are breaking the law by taking bottles or glasses on to the street.

All Heywood centre is covered by a bylaw which bans alcohol on the streets.